CDS

Hi
Check out the tips to prepare for the CDS 2023 exam below. Understand The Syllabus And Exam Format. Practice Mock Exams And Previous Year Papers. Keep The Basics Clear. Concentrate On Important Issues. Start With Simpler Questions. Create A Proper Schedule. Candidates appearing for CDS are advised to start at least 3 to 6 months before the examination. Follow a regular study routine so that the entire syllabus can be completed. Make a timetable and devote 6 to 8 hours especially for preparations. The list of best books for CDS is as follows:
Wren & Martin's High School English Grammar & Composition: S. Hand Publication. Word Power Made Easy: Norman Lewis (Goal Publishers)
Objective General English S. P. Bakshi (Arihant Publication)
General Knowledge by Manohar Pandey. Manorama Yearbook.

Yes, you can pursue your graduation while doing your job. You can pursue your graduation online mode or part-time. Yes, after completing your graduation, you can apply for the CDS OTA exam. For CDS OTA exam eligibility criteria:
1- Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA): Graduation from a recognised university.
2- Indian Naval Academy (INA): An engineering degree from a recognised university or institute.
3- Air Force Academy (AFA): graduation (with Physics and mathematics in class 12) or Bachelor's degree in engineering. For more details, you may visit the Shiksha CDS overview page. (https://www.shiksha.com/sarkari-exams/articles/cds-eligibility-blogId-24737). I hope this will help you.

Yes, the CDS has a height-related requirement. The minimum height for all defense academies through the CDS exam is as follows:
1. Male applicants must be at least 157.5 cm tall to qualify for IMA.
2. The minimum height requirement for admission to the Air Force Academy (AFA) is 162.5 cm.
3. The required height for INA is 157 cm or more, and only male candidates can apply.
4. To apply for OTA, male candidates must be at least 157.5 cm tall, while female candidates must be at least 152 cm tall.
5. Candidates from the Gorkha, Garhwal, Kumaon, and North Eastern regions are given a 5 cm relaxation.
6. Those applying from Lakshadweep are given a 2 cm relaxation.

The physical standards are extremely important for the CDS exam. You may be disqualified even if you are recommended by the SSB if you do not meet the physical fitness requirements. The following are the physical criteria for the CDS exam:
1. The minimum required height is around 157.5 cm for IMA through CDS.
2. It is 157 cm for the Navy and 162.5 cm for the Air Force.
3. For female candidates, the minimum required height is 152 cm.
4. The body mass index (BMI) must be below 25 for CDS.
5. Also, there is a required waist-to-hip ratio that should be below 0.9 for males and 0.8 for females.
6. The waist circumference must be less than 80 cm for females and 90 cm for males.
7. There is a prescribed weight criteria as per height, which you can SEE in the official notification of the UPSC CDS.

You can start with the NCERTs to build the foundation of concepts for the CDS exam. Here is the list of paper-wise suggested books by toppers to prepare for the CDS:
1. Elementary Mathematics: For this paper, you can refer to NCERT mathematics. Additionally, you can take help from RS Aggarwal's Mathematics for CDS or Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations. You can also refer to the Pathfinder for CDS book for this paper.
2. General Awareness: The syllabus of this paper is huge, so you must refer to the NCERTs for this section. In addition, you can refer to the Manohar Panday or Manorama Yearbook. You must regularly read the newspaper to stay updated with Current Affairs that will help you in SSB.
3. English Language: To prepare the grammar section of this paper, you can refer to the Wren and Martin book. For other topics, you can refer to Objective General English by SP Bakshi and Norman Lewis's vocabulary book.